EP3001129B1 - Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Reinigung von Gasen und Regenerationsverfahren dafür - Google Patents

Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Reinigung von Gasen und Regenerationsverfahren dafür Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3001129B1
EP3001129B1 EP14196895.8A EP14196895A EP3001129B1 EP 3001129 B1 EP3001129 B1 EP 3001129B1 EP 14196895 A EP14196895 A EP 14196895A EP 3001129 B1 EP3001129 B1 EP 3001129B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
gas
impurities
zone
coldhead
region
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EP14196895.8A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3001129A1 (de
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Conrad Rillo Millan
Jost Diederichs
Michael Bancroft Simmonds
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Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas CSIC
Universidad de Zaragoza
Quantum Design International Inc
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Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas CSIC
Universidad de Zaragoza
Quantum Design International Inc
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/08—Separating gaseous impurities from gases or gaseous mixtures or from liquefied gases or liquefied gaseous mixtures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/06—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation
    • F25J3/063—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/0685—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the separated product stream separation of noble gases
    • F25J3/069—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by partial condensation characterised by the separated product stream separation of noble gases of helium
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/20—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using solidification of components
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/84—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using filter
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2215/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
    • F25J2215/30—Helium
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/90—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration
    • F25J2270/908—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration by regenerative chillers, i.e. oscillating or dynamic systems, e.g. Stirling refrigerator, thermoelectric ("Peltier") or magnetic refrigeration
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/20—Particular dimensions; Small scale or microdevices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/70—Processing device is mobile or transportable, e.g. by hand, car, ship, rocket engine etc.

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to cryogen gas purifiers for removing impurities from a supply of cryogen gas, and more particularly to helium gas purifiers configured to de-sublimate impurities by cryo-condensation that, optionally, utilize filter means for further facilitating removal of such impurities.
  • the invention further includes methods for purging such impurities or otherwise regenerating the purifiers for continuing operation.
  • Cryogen gases are in high demand for their application in refrigeration and cooling technologies, as well as other applications.
  • helium gas among other cryogen gases, is often used in a variety of medical and scientific equipment, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), material analysis devices, and other equipment.
  • MRI magnetic resonance imaging
  • material analysis devices and other equipment.
  • gas-phase helium is generally liquefied within a gas liquefier by cooling the gas to a point of liquefaction.
  • liquid-phase helium is then evaporated to produce a flow of gas-phase helium for cooling material samples, superconducting magnets, or other materials or components.
  • MEG magneto encephalography
  • NMR nuclear magnetic resonance
  • PPMS physical properties measurement systems
  • MPMS magnetic properties measurement systems
  • Exemplary systems that are currently available include helium liquefiers produced by Quantum Design of San Diego, CA; Cryomech of Syracuse, NY; and Quantum Technology of Blaine, WA. Such technology is proving to be sufficient for helium recovery of single, as well as for multiple, medical and scientific instruments so that helium losses could be minimized.
  • gas purifier In order to provide sufficiently purified gas to a liquid helium plant or system, there is thus typically deployed a gas purifier that is operative to remove impurities in the in-coming feed gas.
  • gas purification is a separation process whose sole purpose is removal from the process gas of unwanted traces, or small amounts of contaminants, termed impurities. After purification, the purified cryogen gas is removed (e.g., transferred to liquefier), the separated contaminants are discarded and the device used for purification is regenerated for re-use.
  • Patent application JP2001248964 discloses a gas purifier having a compressor in communication with a valve for delivering gas into a vacuum insulated vessel.
  • the gas flows through a first heat exchanger, and along a GM freezer and into a gas liquid separation device.
  • Gas exiting the gas liquid separation device flows through a second heat exchanger and into an impurity removal filter for removing impurities to produce a purified gas.
  • the purified gas exits the impurity removal filter and flows back through the second heat exchanger and then through the first heat exchanger before exiting the purifier at near ambient temperature.
  • the present invention specifically address and alleviates the aforementioned deficiencies in the art.
  • a method and device to purify a gas mixture and, more specifically, to purify recovered cryogen gas, namely helium gas, prior to liquefaction, whereby the purified gas contains impurities up to the order of 10 -3 ppm in total volume (N 2 , O 2 , CO 2 , CnHm).
  • the apparatus preferably comprises a vertically-oriented housing, and more particularly a vertically-oriented Dewar having an inlet for receiving the gas to be purified and a purified gas outlet.
  • the Dewar includes an interior that defines a plurality of zones, including first and second zones defined by the upper interior within the Dewar within which is positioned a cooling device operative to cool down the incoming cryogen gas to be purified and causes such impurities to de-sublimate.
  • a third zone which is operative to define an impurities storage area whereby de-sublimated impurities are isolated and thus extracted from the cryogen gas sought to be purified.
  • a collection device or mechanism fluidly connected to the purified gas outlet that can include a filter mechanism, preferably in the form of a cartridge containing a thin layer or layers of nylon or metallic mesh, whereby purified helium gas is recovered.
  • the filter mechanism is provided to prevent any de-sublimated or liquefied impurities from becoming reintroduced into the cryogen gas stream.
  • the incoming gas mixture sought to be purified is cooled down well below the condensation temperature of the impurities by direct exchange of the gas mixture with a cooling device, typically a refrigerator coldhead, that is placed in the first zone of the vertically-oriented Dewar (i.e., in the Dewar neck).
  • a cooling device typically a refrigerator coldhead
  • the impurities progressively condense.
  • the impurity de-sublimates.
  • frost is formed at a position in the apparatus at which the partial pressure of the impurity exceeds the saturation pressure. Thickness of the frost decreases rapidly even if the temperature further drops.
  • Deep cooling of the gas mixture initially takes place in this first zone on the gas process flow direction, also referred to as the de-sublimation region.
  • the de-sublimated or frozen impurities first coat the surfaces of the cooling device, as well as the inner Dewar wall and the surfaces of the different elements in the first and second zones, which can also include further elements such as a gas exhaust heat exchanger, heater, and thermometer.
  • Frost formed from the impurities typically grows up in the first and second zones defining the de-sublimation region, and may form blocks of frozen impurities and/or precipitate down into the third zone or region of the Dewar in the direction of the process gas flow, namely, the Dewar bottom, whereby the third zone or region thus defines an impurities storage region of the purifying apparatus.
  • the exhaust-purified gas is taken from the bottom of the third zone or impurities storage region through a collection mechanism, such as a funnel, font or other type device that optionally include a filter, a counter-flow heat exchanger, and up to the output port formed atop of the Dewar at room temperature.
  • a collection mechanism such as a funnel, font or other type device that optionally include a filter, a counter-flow heat exchanger, and up to the output port formed atop of the Dewar at room temperature.
  • the filter for micrometer sized particles of frozen impurities avoids possible dragging of solid impurities and frost at high flow rates.
  • the method further contemplates a "soft" regeneration process whereby the cooling device disposed within the Dewar is periodically stopped, preferably automatically (i.e., once a day), and a first heater found on the surface of a heat exchanger positioned within the de-sublimation region of the Dewar is activated until a thermometer placed at the lower end of the cooling device indicates that the highest sublimation temperature of the specific impurities has been reached (e.g., 100 K for the case of He with O 2 and N 2 as the main contaminants).
  • a thermometer placed at the lower end of the cooling device indicates that the highest sublimation temperature of the specific impurities has been reached (e.g., 100 K for the case of He with O 2 and N 2 as the main contaminants).
  • the frozen impurities are sublimated/liquefied and displaced from the first and second zones of the deep cooling region down into the impurities storage region where the impurities are frozen again as soon as they find the de-sublimation temperature condition at some point in the Dewar bottom.
  • Such regeneration process is done well prior to when the Dewar neck could get clogged and/or before the heat exchange efficiency could be substantially reduced by the frost.
  • Such impurity sublimation-displacement process advantageously takes only about 10 - 60 minutes and can preferably be automatically performed without interrupting the process gas flow, thus maintaining near full performance at any time until the impurities storage volume gets full.
  • the apparatus is further preferably provided with a second heater disposed in the third zone, and preferably at the Dewar bottom, that is operative to sublimate, liquefy and evaporate the stored impurities in such zone or impurity storage region.
  • a second heater in contrast to the first heater discussed above, is thus provided for a standard high temperature (150 K) regeneration that complements the regeneration provided by the first heater or the "soft" regeneration process.
  • the concentration of a given impurity in the output gas is directly related to the ratio between the equilibrium vapor pressure of the solid impurity at the lowest temperature it has attained in its path through the entire device and the input gas mixture working pressure.
  • the residual output impurities concentration do not depend on their concentration in the input gas mixture, hence values of the order of ⁇ 0.1 ppm are easily obtained.
  • the method has been applied successfully to purify recovered helium gas from scientific and medical equipment prior to liquefaction using small-scale liquefiers like the commercial ATL helium liquefaction technology utilized by Quantum Design Inc. of San Diego, CA.
  • a prototype conforming to the embodiments disclosed herein has been feeding three Quantum Design, Inc.'s ATLs 160 liquefaction systems without interruption for high temperature regeneration during several months of operation.
  • the present invention is directed to methods and devices for purifying a process gas mixture (i.e., cryogen gas) in which the gaseous impurity components of the mixture are removed by de-sublimation.
  • a process gas mixture i.e., cryogen gas
  • the working principle of this invention is cryo-condensation, which is a method well-known in the art to essentially freeze-out undesired components (i.e., impurities) from a given gas mixture by cooling down the mixture well below the condensation temperature of the impurities sought to be removed.
  • Figure 1 depicts a pressure-temperature phase diagram for a helium gas mixture having impurities of N 2 , O 2 and H 2 .
  • the partial pressure of a frozen impurity at any temperature below its condensation temperature, T cj is given by the vapor pressure of the condensate at T; in other words, it can be represented by the solid line separating Vapor (V) and Solid (S) phases for the specific impurity.
  • V Vapor
  • S Solid
  • the continuous lines correspond to the saturation V-S, V-L lines for each component, the total Pressure (P) of the mixture being typically 2 bar.
  • the respective dashed lines with the arrows indicate the partial pressure of the respective components of the mixture during their cool down.
  • V ⁇ S line When a given component reaches the de-sublimation V ⁇ S line, then it follows this continuous line, decreasing with T, and does not leave this line when heating up until all the frozen mass becomes vapor, or liquid first and then vapor, depending on total condensed amount of the impurity.
  • Y j (T) dramatically decreases by orders of magnitude once the sublimation (V ⁇ S) line is reached and T is further decreased.
  • the apparatus 10 is configured as a vertically-oriented housing, namely, a vertical vapor shielded helium Dewar 12 having an elongate, generally cylindrical configuration.
  • the Dewar 12 includes a gas inlet 14 for receiving a cryogen gas to be purified and a post-purification gas outlet 16.
  • the gas inlet and outlets 14, 16 are disposed proximate the top end of the Dewar 12 as viewed from the perspective shown in Figures 2A-3B , with the gas inlet 14 fluidly communicating with an elongate, generally cylindrical interior chamber 17 of the Dewar 12.
  • the interior chamber 17 is defined by an inner container 18 of the Dewar 12 which is concentrically nested within an outer container 20 thereof.
  • a vacuum chamber 22 of the Dewar 12 is defined between the inner and outer containers 18, 20.
  • the Dewar 12 may also be outfitted with several radiation shields within prescribed interior regions thereof.
  • the coldhead 24 includes three separate sections, including a first section 24a, a second section 24b, and a third section or cold tip 24c.
  • the first section 24a of the coldhead 24 defines a first stage thereof, with the second and third sections 24b, 24c collectively defining a second stage thereof.
  • the coldhead 24 is a known component in the art, an example being a Gifford-McMahon (GM) two-stage closed cycle refrigerator (refrigerator compressor not shown).
  • GM Gifford-McMahon
  • the first section 24a (i.e., the first stage) of the coldhead 24, in combination with a corresponding portion of the inner container 18, defines a first part of a deep cooling region within the interior chamber 17, labeled as Zone 1 in Figures 2A-3B .
  • the second and third sections 24b, 24c (i.e., collectively the second stage) of the coldhead 24, in combination with a corresponding portion of the inner container 18, define a second part of the deep cooling region within the interior chamber 17, labeled as Zone 2 in Figures 2A-3B .
  • Zone 3 That remaining portion of the interior chamber 17 extending below Zone 2 as viewed from the perspective shown in Figures 2A-3B and labeled as Zone 3 defines an impurities storage zone or region whereby frozen impurities are collected following de-sublimation thereof in Zones 1 and 2.
  • Zone 3 also disposed within Zone 3 are hardware components necessary to provide an optional filtering system operative to ensure that any impurities, typically in their solid, de-sublimated form, do not become reintroduced into the purified cryogen gas stream generated by the apparatus 10 and methods of the present invention.
  • the heat exchanger 26 comprises an elongate, tubular segment of a material having prescribed thermal transmission characteristics which is coiled in the manner shown in Figures 2A-3B .
  • the heat exchanger 26 is formed in such that the outer diameter of the coils thereof is less than the inner diameter of the interior chamber 17 as allows the heat exchanger 26 to be advanced into the neck region of the Dewar 12, and in particular the interior chamber 17 thereof.
  • the inner diameter of the coils of the heat exchanger 26 is sized to circumvent the coldhead 24, thus allowing for the effective advancement of the coldhead 24 into the interior of the heat exchanger 26.
  • the heat exchanger 26 is sized relative to the coldhead 24 such that the outermost pair of coils is disposed generally proximate respective ones of the distal ends of the first and third sections 24a, 24c, the lowermost coil of the heat exchanger 26 thus being located at approximately the junction between Zones 2 and 3.
  • this relative sizing between the coldhead 24 and heat exchanger 26 is exemplary only, and may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
  • the upper end of the heat exchanger 26 terminating proximate the upper end of the first section 24a is fluidly coupled to the gas outlet 16.
  • the lower end of the heat exchanger 26 proximate the third section 24c is defined by a straight portion which extends generally along the axis of the interior chamber 17.
  • the heat exchanger 26 is formed from the aforementioned elongate segment of tubular material stock, with one section thereof being coiled, and one section being maintained in a generally straight configuration.
  • the apparatus 10 further preferably comprises a first heater 30.
  • the first heater 30 is electrically connected to a suitable power supply, and may be positioned between the coldhead 24 and the heat exchanger 26 proximate to the junction between the first and second stages, and hence Zones 1 and 2.
  • the first heater 30 may be wound onto portions of the coils of the heat exchanger 26 in the aforementioned location. The use of the first heater 30 will be described in more detail below.
  • a sensor 32 disposed on a prescribed location of the third section 24c or cold tip of the coldhead 24 is a sensor 32 (e.g., a thermal diode, thermometer).
  • the sensor 32 electrically communicates with both the coldhead 24 and the first heater 30, and is operative to selectively toggle each between on and off states for reasons which will also be described in greater detail below.
  • the lower end of the heat exchanger 26 as defined by the distal end of the straight portion thereof is fluidly coupled to a collection mechanism that is operative to receive purified cryogen gas within Zone 3 and transfer the same to gas outlet 16 via the heat exchanger 26 with de-sublimated impurities being left behind within Zone 3.
  • the collection mechanism is disposed in Zone 3 and may simply include a device such as a funnel, font or other like device.
  • the collection mechanism comprises a filter cartridge assembly 34 which is shown with particularity in Figure 6 .
  • the apparatus 10 is depicted as including the filter cartridge assembly 34 as the collection mechanism.
  • the filter cartridge assembly 34 is positioned within Zone 3 at a lower portion of the interior chamber 17 defined by Dewar 12.
  • the filter cartridge assembly 34 is positioned within the interior chamber 17 at an orientation sufficient to enable helium gas to be collected and passed therethrough, and thereafter through the heat exchanger and the gas outlet 16 in sequence, while leaving remaining de-sublimated and/or liquefied impurities within an impurities collection/storage region of Zone 3 as will be described in greater detail below.
  • the filter cartridge assembly 34 comprises a cylindrically configured, hollow collection member 36 into which the purified gas flows. After entering the collection member 36, the gas is passed through a filtering mechanism residing within the interior thereof.
  • Exemplary filtering mechanisms which may be integrated into the filter cartridge assembly 34 include a bulk filter 38 or a thin layer filter 40, these filtering mechanisms being adapted to prevent impurities from being reintroduced within the cryogen gas sought to be purified through the use of the apparatus 10.
  • the filter cartridge assembly 34 further comprises a funnel 42 which is attached to the collection member and effectively encloses the filtering mechanism therein. The funnel 42 is fluidly coupled to one end of an elongate, tubular outlet conduit 44 also included in the filter cartridge assembly 34.
  • the apparatus 10 further preferably comprises a second heater 46.
  • the second heater 46 is also electrically connected to a suitable power supply and, when viewed from the perspective shown in Figures 2A-3B , is preferably positioned between the lower or bottom end of the interior chamber 17 and the filter cartridge assembly 34. Within the apparatus 10, this particular region of the interior chamber 17 adjacent to its lower end is characterized as the aforementioned impurities storage region thereof.
  • the use of the second heater 46 will also be described in more detail below.
  • a sensor 48 e.g., a thermal diode, thermometer
  • the sensor 48 is operative to monitor the temperature of the filter cartridge assembly 34 for reasons which will be described in more detail below as well.
  • FIGS 2A and 2B depict the apparatus 10 receiving a cryogen gas to be purified at room temperature and during purification after initial cool down.
  • the gas mixture enters Zone 1 through the gas inlet port 14 and is precooled by the first stage of the coldhead 24.
  • the cooling of the gas mixture by the coldhead 24 is supplemented by the further cooling attributable to a direct heat exchange with the output gas flowing through the coils of the heat exchanger 26.
  • the heat exchange facilitated by the heat exchanger 26 advantageously helps to minimize the cooling power extracted from the coldhead 24.
  • the incoming gas will be cooled to a temperature of 30 K or less, and preferably 10 K.
  • the speed of the gas molecules for a typical input flow rate of 30 L/min decreases rapidly from a few cm/s down to 1-2 cm/min due to density increases.
  • Some impurities in the gas introduced into Zone 1 via the gas inlet 14 may immediately reach super-saturation at some point down in Zone 1 and will start coating at least portions of the surfaces within that portion of the neck of the interior chamber 17.
  • these frozen impurities may start coating portions of the first section 24a (i.e., the first stage) of the coldhead 24, one or more coils of the heat exchanger 26 which reside in Zone 1, and/or a corresponding portion of the inner container 18 which defines Zone 1. Thereafter, the gas mixture reaches Zone 2 where it is deep cooled down to a temperature at which all the remaining impurity components are de-sublimated and coat several different surfaces in Zone 2.
  • these remaining frozen impurities coat at least portions of the second and third sections 24b, 24c (i.e., the second stage) of the coldhead 24, one or more coils of the heat exchanger 26 which reside in Zone 2, and/or a corresponding portion of the inner container 18 which defines Zone 2.
  • the present invention further contemplates regeneration processes, and more particularly a "soft" regeneration process, operative to remove such impurities 50a, 50b from Zones 1 and 2 to the aforementioned impurities storage region of Zone 3.
  • Figure 3A illustrates the apparatus 10 as effectuating such "soft" regeneration (i.e., sublimation) process.
  • the coldhead 24 is deactivated and first heater 30 concurrently activated until the third section 24c or cold tip of coldhead 24 reaches the sublimation and/or liquefaction temperature of the frozen impurities 50a, 50b in Zones 1 and 2.
  • This causes the frozen impurities 50a, 50b to sublimate and/or liquefy, and fall down towards the impurities storage region of the interior chamber 17. As they fall, the impurities are again subjected to low de-sublimation temperatures.
  • the impurities are again supersaturated in the gas mixture, they consequently are again frozen (such re-frozen impurities being labeled as 50c in Figures 3A and 3B ), and may adhere to surfaces within Zone 3 and/or finally fall down into the impurity storage region.
  • the temperature in the lower portion of Zone 3 including the temperature of the filter cartridge assembly 34 therein does not change substantially as its temperature remains less than 20 K, while the temperature of the third section 24c of the coldhead 24 rises up to 90-100 K, ensuring complete sublimation/liquefaction of impurities within Zones 1 and 2.
  • the temperature of the filter cartridge assembly 34 is monitored via sensor 48. It is contemplated that the regeneration process will be interrupted (the first heater 30 deactivated and the coldhead 24 reactivated) if the temperature of the filter cartridge assembly 34 starts to approach 30 K, to thus guarantee that the impurities level at the gas output 16 remains negligible (less than 0.05 ppm). In this regard, it is desirable that the temperature in at least the lower portion of Zone 3 remains at or below the de-sublimation temperature of the impurities to insure that no sublimated impurities resulting from the regeneration process contaminate the gas flowing into the cartridge filter assembly 34 and thereafter to the gas outlet 16 via the heat exchanger 26.
  • the exterior surface of the coldhead 24 and/or that of the heat exchanger 26 may be coated with an ice resistant material so that the solid impurities and frost are repelled by the resulting slippery coated surfaces and directly fall down into the impurities storage region, thus minimizing the frequency of the regeneration processes.
  • This "soft" regeneration process which was derived from finding that the impurities are frozen and collected in Zones 1 and 2, is nothing less than a cleaning process for the coldhead 24 during which the coldhead 24 is “OFF” and first heater 30 is “ON.” This process displaces the impurities 50a, 50b down into Zone 3, thus cleansing the heat exchanger 26 and the coldhead 24 that therefore recovers its cooling capacity.
  • Several processes of this kind can be done at regular intervals of time, or when considered necessary, to increase the purifying time period between two regenerations.
  • the initiation of the "soft" regeneration process can be facilitated in any one of several different ways.
  • One way could be based on process initiation automatically at prescribed, timed intervals (e.g., once a day).
  • Another could be based on the functionality of the sensor 32 attached to the third section 24c or cold tip of the second stage of the coldhead 24.
  • the sensor 32 is preferably a thermal diode or thermometer which electrically communicates with both the coldhead 24 and the first heater 30.
  • the efficacy of the apparatus 10 is premised, in large measure, on its thermal stability.
  • the sensors 32, 48 working in concert with each other, effectively monitor the thermal stability of the apparatus 10, with the sensor 32 being operative to selectively toggle the coldhead 24 and the first heater 30 between on and off states as may be needed to facilitate the initiation of the soft regeneration process.
  • the senor 32 may be operative to terminate any regeneration process by deactivating the first heater 30 and reactivating the coldhead 24 once it senses that the temperature in Zones 1 and 2 has reached the highest sublimation temperature of the specific impurities within the gas entering the interior chamber 17 via the gas inlet 14.
  • the apparatus 10 may also be outfitted with two pressure sensors, one which is operative to monitor inlet pressure within Zones 1 and 2, and the other which is operative to monitor outlet pressure at the gas outlet 16 fluidly communicating with the heat exchanger 26.
  • these two pressure sensors labeled as 19 and 21 in Figure 2A are positioned such that the pressure sensor 19 is located at and fluidly communicates with the gas inlet 14, with the pressure sensor 21 being located at and fluidly communicating with the gas outlet 16.
  • the pressure sensors could be used to trigger the regeneration process.
  • the pressure sensors would further be operative to thereafter discontinue such regeneration process upon sensing that the previously imbalanced pressure levels have equalized within the apparatus 10.
  • An exemplary illustration of this functionality is graphically depicted in Figure 4A .
  • the soft regeneration process (cleansing of the coldhead 24) allows for an extension in the periods between high T (150 K) regenerations, therefore allowing the purifying periods to be much longer.
  • the ability to use the soft regeneration is attributable, at least in part, to the high available volume in Zone 3 (especially when using a small filter cartridge assembly 34), and thus the higher available volume to collect frozen impurities displaced from Zones 1 and 2.
  • Zone 3 remains very cold as indicated above ensures that the purity at the gas output 16 is not affected by the sublimation process, so that the apparatus 10 continuously feeds the liquefiers or any device connected at its output.
  • Figure 3B represents the situation in which, after a regeneration process, impurities are stored in Zone 3 and new impurities are being de-sublimated in Zones 1 and 2.
  • the apparatus 10 When the amount of impurities collected in solid form in Zone 3 is estimated to be of the order of the "belly" volume (i.e., available volume in the impurities storage region), or when any blockages caused by frost are frequent and cannot be eliminated by the "soft" regeneration or sublimation processes, the apparatus 10 must necessarily be subject to a more robust regeneration process.
  • the second heater 20 in the impurities storage region may be activated, and used to sublimate, liquefy, and evaporate the stored impurities (labeled as 52 in Figure 5 ). Heating the whole system to about 120-150 K guarantees that all the stored impurities 52 are evaporated, with the inner container 18 thereafter being evacuated with a pump and refilled again with a gas mixture to start a new purification cycle.
  • first and second heaters 30, 46 are necessary in the practice of the present invention; first heater 30 in the deep cooling region for performing the "soft" regeneration, and second heater 46 in the bottom of the Dewar 12 or impurities storage region for additional heating during the standard high T regenerations.
  • the "soft" regeneration method cannot be implemented with any embodiments designed for coalescing impurities, as some prior art systems such as those disclosed in United States Patent Application Serial No. 13/937,186 , entitled CRYOCOOLER-BASED GAS SCRUBBER, filed on July 8, 2013. Notwithstanding, in a new embodiment using the small filter cartridge assembly 34, it is possible to implement such method.
  • the method provides for a huge improvement in the art, since the coldhead 24 and heat exchanger 26 both maintain efficiency unaltered, and the down time for removing impurities can be dramatically reduced. In fact, by adequate design of the interior of the Dewar 12, it is possible to store impurities during very long periods, potentially as long as the maintenance period of the coldhead 24.
  • the filter cartridge assembly 34 may be integrated into the collection mechanism of the apparatus 10 and operative to ensure that any of the impurities held within Zone 3 or the impurities storage region do not somehow become reintroduced into the purified cryogen gas stream that is ultimately collected from Zone 3 and passed upwardly through the Dewar 12 for reuse once output from the gas outlet 16.
  • the filter cartridge assembly 34 integrated as part of the apparatus 10 and as described above is specifically designed to have a compact, thin profile that not only provides exceptional filtering capability, but eliminates the large, excessively bulky wool glass cartridge designs typically in use.
  • the purified gas e.g., helium
  • the filtering mechanism i.e., the bulk filter 38 or thin layer filter 40.
  • the purified gas passes through funnel 42 and upwardly through outlet conduit 44, and ultimately passes to gas outlet 16 via heat exchanger 26.
  • the filter mechanisms represented by the bulk filter 38 and the thin layer filter 40 represent two alternative types of filtering means, with bulk filter 38 representing a prior art glass wool or fiberglass-based filtering mechanism that is operative to provide sufficient surface area to trap any impurities that might otherwise become reintroduced into the cryogen gas.
  • the thin layer filter 40 represents a thin layer of material having a plurality of micrometer-sized holes through which the gas is filtered.
  • Such the thin layer filter 40 may preferably be formed from a metallic mesh material or may be formed from nylon mesh, the latter being preferred.
  • a very small 2D nylon mesh filter used as the thin layer filter 40 plays the same role than a big wool glass cartridge and gives much more room available for storing impurities during the necessary and very important soft regeneration processes to maintain the efficiency of the heat exchange during long periods of time.
  • a wool glass cartridge typically constituting the bulk filter 38 as use of a filter cartridge assembly 34 outfitted with the thin layer filter 40 is functional in a manner wherein impurities at the level of 0.1 ppm never arrive to the gas outlet 16 when such filter cartridge assembly 34 is placed near the bottom of the Dewar 12.
  • the filter cartridge assembly 34 can accommodate different micrometer size thin layer filters 40 that can be used to avoid dragging of impurities towards the gas outlet 16.
  • a single or a combination of planar nylon and/or metallic mesh discs having a hole size ranging from 1-25 ⁇ m and a diameter of approximately 25 mm can be utilized with the nylon mesh having hole sizes ranging from 1-25 ⁇ m and the stainless steel mesh having a 25 ⁇ m hole size.
  • Other types of materials and hole sizes would be readily understood by those skilled in the art and readily integrated in the practice of the present invention.
  • the size and/or shape of the filter cartridge assembly 34 as shown in Figures 2A-3B and 5 may vary (e.g., may be smaller than that depicted) without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
  • the overall size and shape will be dictated, to at least some degree, by the selection of the particular filtering mechanism that is to be integrated therein. Irrespective of the specific size or shape of the filter cartridge assembly 34, it is contemplated that the annual gap defined between the circumferential surface thereof of greatest diameter and the inner diameter of the inner container 18 will be sufficient to allow for the desired flow of sublimated impurities into the impurities storage region and the flow of purified gas into the underside of the collection member 36.
  • the apparatus had a heater wound on top of an output heat exchange tube, and a sensor attached in said tube, just below the cold tip of the coldhead second stage, to implement in a controlled manner the sublimation/displacement of solid impurities trapped on the deep cooling region, i.e., in the Dewar neck region.
  • the sublimation/displacement process consisted of stopping the coldhead and activating the heater for about 10-60 minutes until the cold tip sensor indicated 100 K, a temperature at which the collected impurities in Dewar neck region are sublimated/liquefied, and transported to the impurities storage region, i.e., to the Dewar bottom.
  • the prototype was operative to purify from 10 6 to 10 7 sL of Helium gas containing from 100 ppm to 1000 ppm total volume ratios of N 2 and O 2 , without interruption for regeneration.
  • Output flow rate peaks as large as 50 sL/min, and average flow rates in excess of 30 L/min, could be maintained with sufficiently long periods of time (>12 hours) between soft regenerations, without affecting the output purity of the processed gas.
  • the whole apparatus and its components could be scaled in size and power for higher flow rates.
  • Figure 4B is a graph depicting exemplary fluctuations of several parameters (e.g., flow rate, incoming pressure, outgoing pressure, and temperatures) as a function of time during an impurity de-sublimation process occurring during a soft regeneration.
  • the data is very clean, thus clearly establishing the correlation between coldhead space T and a small pressure drop (incoming pressure minus outgoing pressure) appearing during the cool down. This is of the order of 0.1 psi/L/min and becomes negligible as soon as coldhead space T is below 20 K, when the molar volume of the solid impurities reaches a minimum constant value.
  • this effect also limits the output flow and can be used, together with the corresponding T increase, as a double check for the system to decide when to perform a soft regeneration. Furthermore, if a pressure drop develops while the filter is at a temperature below 10 K, it will indicate that clogging is starting to be produced in the coldhead deep cooling space (zones 1 and 2) or on the impurities storage region (zone 3) and a standard regeneration should be performed..
  • a bypass valve to maintain a minimum input flow of 5 L/min when there is no flow demand at the output may not be necessary.
  • partial clogging-unclogging on the deep cooling region may appear spontaneously, even with continuous input-output flows above 10 L/min, but only for high impurities concentration.
  • a soft regeneration would be sufficient to periodically eliminate this problem and there would be no need for a heater on the 2D filter output device.
  • the filter may be thermally anchored to the Dewar bottom so that the filter sensor also senses the temperature (T) of the bottom for the low temperature regenerations to be performed, maintaining the heating until the liquid phase of the impurities is completely evaporated, as in the prior art (Quantum Designs ATP model), such as that described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/937,186 entitled CRYOCOOLER-BASED GAS SCRUBBER filed July 8, 2013.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
  • Filtering Materials (AREA)
  • Vaporization, Distillation, Condensation, Sublimation, And Cold Traps (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Gasreiniger zum Entfernen gasförmiger Verunreinigungen aus einem Kryogengas, wobei der Gasreiniger umfasst:
    ein Gehäuse (12) mit einem Einlass (14) zum Empfangen eines Kryogengases, das gereinigt werden soll, und mit einem Auslass (16) für gereinigtes Gas, wobei das genannte Gehäuse (12) eine hohle Gas-Unterdruckinnenkammer (22) definiert, die in einem obersten Innenstück davon ein erstes Gebiet und in einem unteren Innenstück davon ein zweites Gebiet definiert; wobei das Gehäuse (12) einen Außenbehälter (20) und einen Innenbehälter (18), der konzentrisch in dem Außenbehälter (20) verschachtelt ist, umfasst; wobei der Gaseinlass (14) mit einer Innenkammer (17) des Gehäuses (12) fluidtechnisch in Verbindung steht; wobei die Innenkammer (17) durch den Innenbehälter (18) definiert ist; und wobei die Gas-Unterdruckkammer (22) des Gehäuses (12) durch den genannten Innen- und durch den genannten Außenbehälter (18, 20) definiert ist;
    einen Kaltkopf (24), der in dem ersten Gebiet angeordnet ist; wobei der Kaltkopf (24) drei getrennte Abschnitte enthält, die einen ersten Abschnitt (24a), einen zweiten Abschnitt (24b) und einen dritten Abschnitt (24c) enthalten; wobei der erste Abschnitt (24a) des Kaltkopfs (24) ferner eine erste Stufe des Kaltkopfs (24) definiert und wobei der zweite und der dritte Abschnitt (24b; 24c) des Kaltkopfs (24) zusammen eine zweite Stufe des Kaltkopfs (24) definieren; wobei der erste Abschnitt (24a) und ein entsprechendes Stück des Innenbehälters (18) eine erste Zone definieren; und wobei der zweite und der dritte Abschnitt (24b, 24c) und ein entsprechendes Stück des Innenbehälters (18) eine zweite Zone definieren; wobei die erste und die zweite Zone ein erster und ein zweiter Teil eines Tiefkühlgebiets in der Innenkammer (17) sind;
    wobei ferner ein verbleibendes Stück der Innenkammer (17), das dem zweiten Gebiet entspricht und unter der zweiten Zone verläuft, eine dritte Zone definiert, wobei die genannte dritte Zone eine Verunreinigungslagerzone ist, durch die gefrorene Verunreinigungen nach ihrer Desublimation in der ersten und in der zweiten Zone gesammelt werden;
    und wobei der Kaltkopf (24) ferner dafür betreibbar ist, mit einer Strömung des durch den Einlass (14) empfangenen Kryogengases, das gereinigt werden soll, in Kontakt zu gelangen, wobei der Kaltkopf (24) dafür betreibbar ist, das Kryogengas auf eine Temperatur zu kühlen, die ausreicht, gasförmige Verunreinigungen, die in dem Kryogengas vorhanden sind, durch Erzeugen einer Übersättigung einiger der gasförmigen Verunreinigungen (50) in dem Kryogengas zu desublimieren, so dass sie Stücke des ersten Abschnitts (24a) des Kaltkopfs (24) und/oder ein entsprechendes Stück des Innenbehälters (18), das die erste Zone definiert, überziehen; während alle verbleibenden gasförmigen Verunreinigungen (50b) in dem Kryogengas wenigstens Stücke des zweiten und des dritten Abschnitts (24b, 24c) des Kaltkopfs (24) und/oder ein entsprechendes Stück des Innenbehälters (18), das die zweite Zone definiert, überziehen; und
    einen Sammelmechanismus, der mit dem Auslass (16) für gereinigtes Gas gekoppelt ist, wobei der Sammelmechanismus in der dritten Zone in dem zweiten Gebiet angeordnet ist und darin wahlweise in der Weise positioniert ist, dass das Kryogengas dadurch und durch den Auslass (16) geht, während die gasförmigen Verunreinigungen als desublimiert in dem Innenraum des genannten Gehäuses (12) gehalten werden.
  2. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Gehäuse (12) ein vertikal orientiertes Dewar-Gefäß umfasst.
  3. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 2, der ferner eine Heizeinrichtung (30) enthält, die in dem genannten ersten Gebiet des Innenraums des Gehäuses (12) angeordnet ist, wobei die Heizeinrichtung (30) dafür betreibbar ist, die Sublimation der wenigstens einen in dem ersten Gebiet desublimierten Verunreinigung zu veranlassen.
  4. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 2, wobei der in dem zweiten Gebiet des Innenraums des Dewar-Gefäßes (12) angeordnete Sammelmechanismus einen Filtermechanismus (34) enthält, wobei
    der Filtermechanismus (34) vorzugsweise eine dünne Lage eines Nylon-Maschennetzes oder eine dünne Lage eines Metalldrahtmaschennetzes umfasst.
  5. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 4, wobei das Nylonmaschennetz und das Metalldrahtmaschennetz mehrere darin gebildete Mikroporen enthalten, wobei die genannten Mikroporen eine Größe im Bereich von 1 bis 25 Mikrometer aufweisen.
  6. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 3, der ferner eine zweite Heizeinrichtung (46) umfasst, die in dem zweiten Gebiet des Innenraums des Dewar-Gefäßes (12) angeordnet ist, wobei die zweite Heizeinrichtung (46) dafür betreibbar ist, die wenigstens einen desublimierten gasförmigen Verunreinigungen, die in dem zweiten Gebiet des Innenraums des Dewar-Gefäßes (12) angeordnet sind, zu verflüssigen und ihre Verdampfung zu ermöglichen.
  7. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Kryogengas, das gereinigt werden soll, Helium ist und die gasförmigen Verunreinigungen Sauerstoff und Stickstoff umfassen.
  8. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 2, der ferner wenigstens einen Sensor (48) umfasst, der in dem Innenraum des Dewar-Gefäßes (12) angeordnet ist, wobei der Sensor (48) dafür betreibbar ist, den Kaltkopf (24) wahlweise zu aktivieren und zu deaktivieren.
  9. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 2, der ferner umfasst:
    den Sammelmechanismus, der dafür konfiguriert ist, einen Strömungsweg zu definieren, durch den das Kryogengas, aus dem die desublimierten gasförmigen Verunreinigungen entfernt worden sind, strömen kann.
  10. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 9, der ferner einen Filtermechanismus (34) enthält, der in dem Sammelmechanismus enthalten ist, wobei der Filtermechanismus (34) einen Filter umfasst, der aus der Gruppe ausgewählt ist, die aus einem Nylonmaschennetz und aus einem Metallmaschennetz besteht.
  11. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 10, wobei das Nylonmaschennetz mehrere Öffnungen mit einer Größe von 1 Mikrometer bis 25 Mikrometer definiert und wobei das Drahtmaschennetz mehrere Öffnungen mit einer Öffnungsgröße von 1 Mikrometer bis 25 Mikrometer definiert.
  12. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 9, wobei das Kryogengas Helium umfasst und wobei die gasförmigen Verunreinigungen Sauerstoff und Stickstoff umfassen.
  13. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 10, der ferner eine Heizeinrichtung (30) enthält, die in der ersten Zone der Innenkammer des Dewar-Gefäßes (12) angeordnet ist, wobei die Heizeinrichtung (30) dafür betreibbar ist, die wenigstens einen desublimierten Verunreinigungen, die durch den Kaltkopf (24) in der ersten Zone erzeugt werden, zu sublimieren, wobei er
    ferner vorzugsweise einen Sensor (48) zum Wechseln des Betriebs zwischen dem Kaltkopf (24) und der Heizeinrichtung (30) enthält.
  14. Gasreiniger gemäß Anspruch 13, der ferner eine zweite Heizeinrichtung (46) enthält, die in der dritten Zone des zweiten Gebiets des Dewar-Gefäßes (12) angeordnet ist, wobei die zweite Heizeinrichtung (46) dafür betreibbar ist, die desublimierten und in dem Verunreinigungslagergebiet der dritten Zone gesammelten gasförmigen Verunreinigungen zu verflüssigen und ihre Verdampfung zu ermöglichen.
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